Claudia Lockwood-Mikaelson

Chapter 17 - Marcel's Orders

Maeve and I are back in the kitchen together. This time it's not pasta, we're making pizzas. Unfortunately it wouldn't do me any good to start throwing flour around the kitchen like we did weeks ago, however fun it would be. For starters this isn't my home and I doubt the Mikaelsons would be too impressed. Elijah wasn't happy the first time either, I can only imagine his annoyance if we made the same mess in his own home.

"Pineapple on pizza? Yes or no?" Maeve asks me in a sing-song voice as she dances around the kitchen table.

"Yuck no," I tell her, sticking my tongue out in disgust.

"Try it? Just this once?" She pleads giving me puppy eyes. "For me? Your best friend? Unless we're not best friends anymore since our argument," she asks cheekily, attempting a sorrowful expression. Nice try, Maeve I think. We both know she's joking. While we aren't back to where we were before our argument, we're as close as we're going to get at the moment, before I can fully trust her again.

"Alright then," I give in easily this time since I've never been able to say no to her. She grins happily and reaches for the pineapple. Maeve is the one person that can get everyone in this household to change their minds simply by asking nicely. I don't even mind my inability to refuse her if it means she's happy. She lights up the room with her gentleness and sweet temperament. I don't think I've ever met someone who truly dislikes her.

As I turn my back to her to chop up more tomatoes for the topping, I roll my eyes hearing her quiet giggles. She's not very subtle at all but I pretend not to notice although we both know I hear her. When I turn back around with tomatoes in hand, I see both our pizzas are absolutely covered in pineapple.

"Maeve," my mouth drops open in mock-horror. "Where are the pizzas?" I pretend to scour the tabletop looking around before my eyes come to rest on them buried under two towers of pineapple. She's put so much pineapple on both that you can hardly see the base, let alone put any other toppings on.

"They're just in front of you, I thought you wanted pineapple," she says to me laughing. I pick off about half and pop a piece in my mouth. The sharp tangy flavour is delicious. I'm pleased we are easily able to slide back into our normal routine where we make dinner together and Maeve acts silly to make me laugh.

"Yum, much better when it's not cooked," I comment.

"That we can agree on," she responds eating some of the extra on her pizza as well. Even for her, the amount of pineapple she piled on was excessive.

I sprinkle some tomatoes on the pizzas and we add the rest of our toppings. After putting them in the oven we sit down to chat while we wait for the pizza to cook. It's nice to spend the evening together. We have been spending more time with Jannah and while I do enjoy meeting as a trio, I have missed my alone time with my best friend.

"So what has your first month or so been like as a married woman?" I ask her interested in how things have changed for her recently and how she's doing with it all.

"It's been amazing, Elijah is wonderful." Maeve begins talking about how lucky she is and how attentive Elijah has been since she moved in to the compound for good. When she expresses her slight concern at the stress she's noticed in her husband I can't help but express my own opinion having noticed the same in Nik. I blame Marcel's demanding orders for the inner circle to continue working on their plan to help Jannah. Nik and Elijah refuse to miss a meeting.

"The boys have been overworking themselves trying to sort out whatever is going on between the witches. I just don't understand why they need to get involved. It's counterproductive when they hardly sleep and get grouchy with us over it. They're control freaks, honestly." I shake my head thinking about the constant meetings they've been having and all the logistics they're adamant they need to plan precisely down to the minuscule detail.

"Yes, Elijah's constantly complaining to me about them at the moment. I suppose once Jannah takes over, the chaos will all die down again," Maeve adds. "Is it crazy that I can't imagine her as spokeswoman for the witches of New Orleans?"

"I can't either if I'm honest," I profess. "I can't picture her doing it at all but I suppose she will be fantastic since both Nik, Elijah and Marcel back her up. They know what they're doing and can spot a good leader. Mind you, they're probably only helping her so they can ask for more favours as and when they need them. I'm sure she's doing the same."

"Yes, I wouldn't be surprised. They're already using her to help them in Marcel's dreadful manhunt for Nathan's killer," she groans and I say nothing. I've been on edge constantly since overhearing Nik and Marcel's meeting with the nightwalkers. I'm pinning my hopes on the fact that no one has claimed to be a witness and Jannah has been unable to identify me as the suspect. I've been lucky so far.

"Are we still planning on getting our hair done tomorrow morning?" I change the subject diplomatically.

"Yes, let's invite Jannah too?"

I nod and we wait for the meeting Jannah is attending to end. As she is about to leave the compound I call out to her and she comes over with a smile.

"Claudia, Maeve, nice to see you," she greets us.

"I hope the meeting went well," I say dubiously and she grimaces. Clearly she's not too happy.

"Same as usual, I'm grateful for the help but Marcel keeps pestering me about not having done enough about Nathan. He's seething, furious that the culprit has seemingly got away with murder but I don't have anyway to help from what he's given me."

I'm relieved at her words. If Marcel is putting all his faith in Jannah to find out it was me and she's just admitted she can't do it I'm probably in the clear. Steering the conversation towards something I'd rather talk about I invite her out with us the following morning.

"You should take your mind off everything with a distraction, come out with us tomorrow?" I offer. "We're going to the hair salon Rebekah recommended to Maeve and then probably out for lunch afterwards. Meet us here tomorrow morning and we'll take the car?"

"Oh I'd love to but I can't make tomorrow," Jannah apologises. "You girls have fun though. Where are you heading?"

Maeve tells her the name of the salon and Jannah nods approvingly, not shy in letting us know that Rebekah has good taste. I agree to see her the following day after she makes us both promise to send her photos of our new hair tomorrow. I think highlights and a cut are way overdue, I can't wait.

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Bit of a filler chapter but a lot of chaos in the next one👀

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I love you all❤️
Ceryn x